Leveling rod



Sept. 22, 1931. A. LANGSNER 1,824,023

LEVELING ROD Filedug. 29. 1927 Patented Sept. 22, 1931 ADOLPH LANGsNnR, oF CHICAGO, ILJLI'NoIs-,nssreivonro EUGENE DIETZGEN PAU-:Nr oFFicE l' PANY, or CHICAGO, ILLiNoIs, A ooR-Ponlirioiv or DELAWARE LEVELING ROD Application filed AugustJ 2.9, 1927. Serial No. 216,306.

My invention relates to leveling rods used by surveyors and others, and especially to an extension leveling rod composed of two sections whereby therod `may be extended in length and may be held in such position of adjustment. Rods of this typeare provided with alower section designed to rest upon the ground or other supportandprovided with scale markings on its front. An upper 1o section is assembled to this lower section'to slide thereon and this upper section carries a target vertically Heretofore the extension leveling rods have been provided with clamps for vholding the upper sli'dable section in its extreme eX- tended position of adjustment'with respect tothe lower section. An improved type of such a clamping means. is 'shown in my copending application, Serial No. 174,278,

l sied March 1o, 1927.

e Experience has shown, however, that these prior clamping devices have been ineffective positivelyto hold the upper section in such extreme adjustable position with respect vto 2.5 the lower section, and considerable annoyance and loss of time has been occasioned by the necessity of readjusting the upper slidable section with respect to the lower section due to the fact that when theoperator of the leveling rod moved to a new location to take an additional measurement and when he placed the leveling rod on the ground, in the very act of placing he generally dropped the lower section into contact ywith the 35 ground when so placing it. This impact. of

the lower section with the ground caused the upper section to shift 'slightly downwardly-y in spite of the clamping device, so that the accurate setting of the upper section was disturbed in spite of the clamping device.

One of the objects of mypresent invention is to provide a positive locking means for interlocking the two sections so that they are incapable of shifting relatively reven when the bottom section `is impacted against the ground. In the present disclosure Athis locking means is preferably an automatic locking means adaptedto come into-operation when the upper section isislid outwardadjustable thereon. A

ly or upwardly .to its eXtreme extended posiconvide an automaticlocking means between the upper and lower sections of thelevelin rod which is `operable by the movemento one ofvsaid sections relatively to the other.

Another object of my inventionresidesin extended position of adjustment.. In this l improved construction the rclamping device of my formerconstruction co-operates with the automatic lockto prevent side play or rattling of the sections. l

These and otherbjects of my invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following specitication when vtaken yin connection with the accompanying drawings whereine Figure l shows a view of the leveling rod with the upper extension lowered;

Fig. 2 shows a view with the upper section in the raised position and with the pin of the automatic stop seated in the apertured boss of the locking spring; f

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of one formof my automatic stop,\tlie same .being that forml kwherein my automatic stop is combined with the clamping mechanism shown in my before mentioned application;

Fig. l is a front viewy thereof; and

Fig.` 5 is a detailed perspective view of the combined spring for the clamp and having an extension to provide the automatic stop.

Referring now to the drawings, the l,rod y is formed in two sections l0 and 12in a manner common to extension leveling rods. The upper'section l2 1s. adapted to carry. a

target at lits upper end-.V -This target' is not showninthe-drawing.` `rlhis upper. section may be shifted again one relatively to the may be termed the movable section. The lower section is designed to rest upon the ground or any other support. Ordinarily the front of the stationary scale 10 has the usual scale markings.

As shown in the dra-wings, the two sections are adaptedto be held in slidable assembled relation by means of a clip V13 preferably fastened to one face of the bottom portion Vof `the section 12. This clip is of the usual U-shaped formation and is provided with the usual aperture through which the indicating marks of the front face on the lower section may be viewed. In addition the lower end of the section 10 is provided with a stop or abutment against which the bottom end of section 12 rests when the Y upper and lower sections are .slid into compact position as shown in Fig. 1.

In the practical operation of an rextension leveling rod when it is desired to take measurements of increased height, the' movable Vsection l2 is slid upwardly toits extreme lpositioniof adjustment and the target may then be slid vertically to the desired adjustment as is well known. f

My. present invention comprehends means for immovably and rigidly locking the upper section in its extreme extendedposition with respect to the lower section, and I-preferably form this means so that the sections will be so locked automaticallyby the sliding movement of the upper section relative to the lower section. Y

This automatlc locking means is also constructed and arranged to be instantly released so as to permit the upper section to be freely shifted down-or below such predetermined adjustment. Obviously this automatic lock may take many variant forms.v In the present instance I have provided a simpletype of automatic locking means constructed of a leaf spring attached to one of the sections, preferably the lower,

and a pin Vor a lug projecting from the: side 'spring the lock is free to ride out of.its

locking aperture so that the two sections other.

lVhile this particular spring construction of automatic lock'may take many forms of construction, I prefer to adopt this particular spring form' of automatic lock andv to combine it with the clamping mechanism disclosed and claimed in myrprior application heretofore mentioned. In this manner t-he spring of my automatic lock will form an extension of the spring used in my clamping construction so that such spring will have a dual function: first, its function as an means for preventing the end of the clamping screw from biting or indenting the woodof one of the sections and-for providing a greater superficial area of clamping contact; and second, the lower end of the spring or the spring extension will form the leaf spring portion of the automatic lock as just herein described for co-operating with the projecting. lug on the lother section of the leveling rod.

For the purpose of describing the manner of co-operation of my present type of automatic interlocking spring with the clamping device of my prior application, rit will be necessary for me to briefly describe the construction andoperation of such clamp. It will be understood, however, that the details of construction of the clamp itself are not claimed herein, but are made in my prior mentioned application, the claims of the present application being confined tol such parts of the clamp as co-operate and combine with my spring automatic interlock herein shown and described.

Referring now particularly to the clamp, it comprises a substantially rectangular hollow sleeve 16 suitably fastened to the lower section 10. A yoke 18 has two feet 20 'which are riveted to theV front wall of the sleeve 16 so that the yokeis held in position upon the sleeve. The front wall ofthe sleeve 16 is provided with an aperture through which the nose 22 of a clamping screw 24C is ada-pt- `10s ed to project. The outer endof the clamping screw threadedly engages the threaded apertureQ` of the yoke 18. Intermediate its ends the clamping screw 24 is provided with a turning wheel 28.

In the present form of my invention I prefer to construct the spring vportion of my automatic interlock vasshown in perspective of Fig. 5 of th'e'drawings, wherein the upper portion A30 of this spring is slightly bowed, being provided on its upper edge with a lateral extension 32 and atthe lower termination of the-bowed portion30 with a shoulder 34. The lower portion 36 of the spring extends in a substantially uniform plane toward its lower end where it is .provided with an outstanding boss 38 apertured as at h 40, and the eXtreme lower tip 42 of the 'eX- tension is turned upwardly.V This spring is made of any resilientA material. It is installed in position as shown clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings in such a manner that the bowed' portion 30 is placed -between Vthe front wall of the lower section 10 and the nose 22 ofthe threaded screw. Ther upper lateral extension 32 of the bowed portion eX- tends overthe upper edge of the sleeve 16 and the lower shoulder 34 of the bowed portion is positioned under and in contact with the lower portion of the sleeve 16. By preterence, the extension 32 and also the shoulder 34 are sprung a triile so that they will converge slightly and will grip the lower` edges oi' the side wall of the sleeve.` Thus the spring is held somewhat after the manner of a clip with the result that the spring will retain itself in position within the sleeve even though the rodsectionvis not present. As the spring is resilient it can of course be readily pulled oil and is positioned by merely pressing it into place. This construction forms a simple and effective means for keeping the spring inthe frame and simplifies the act of assembly.

It will be noticed that the sleeve 16 is located on one face of the lower section 10 in such a manner that the depending portion 36 of the spring 30 overlies the path of movement of the upper section as it slides vertically with respectto the lower section. This upper section carries on its adjacent face an outwardly projecting lug This lug as the section 12 slides upward is directly in the path of the hole 40 in the spring extension 36 so that when the section 12 reaches its eXtreme upper position toward the end of this upward movement, lug 44 will ride under the upwardly bent nose 42 of the spring and will raise the spring so that the projection 44 will snap into the hole 40 and thus. lock the upper section 12 in predetermined eXtreme, extended lposition. This lock is thus automatic in its operation by the sliding of the two sections relatively. At the same time it will be observed that by lifting the free end 32 of the extension 36 the interlock is instantly released so that thesection 12 may be slidV upwardly again in position as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be appreciated that my improved lockingy device is of simple construction, is sure and automatic in its operation and may be instantly released to permit a shifting of the relatively slidable sections. It will be further appreciated that my present form of automatic interlock, that is the spring type of automatic interlock for the leveling rod sections, is peculiarly adaptable to'be combined with and to form an integral part of the spring member of my clamping device the specific details kof which are disclosed and claimed in my beiorementioned application; and that due to the fact that the bowed portion 30 of the spring is integral with the resilient extension 36 of the spring, my automatic interlock can be quickly assembled in position on the lower section. It will be further appreciated that in this particular type of device illustrated the sleeve16 together with the clamping member thereof acts lirmly to hold the two relatily slidable sections in their eXtreme eX- tended positions and prevents rattle therebetween, and in addition prevents any` side play. It will be noted that in the extended position the automatic locking mechanism is disposed between the lower clip 13 on the bottom of the upper section 12, and the sleeve 16 on the upper portion of the lower section 10, thus providing a very rigid interlock. It will be further recognized that due to the shoulder 34 of the spring the lower'end of the spring 36 is resiliently rkpressed against ,the side of the upper section 12 so that the automaticengagenient of the projection 44 in the hole 40 of the spring is assured. f l f v `Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to rsecure by Letters Patent is 1. An extensionY leveling rod comprising a lower section, an upper section, means for slidably holding said sections in assembled relation so that the upper section maybe moved to eXtreme outwardlyextended position, and Lcooperating means carried by said holding means and one of said sections for automatically locking saidsections in such extendedpositions, said co-operating means comprising a pin and a spring latch member Y adapted'to snap over said pin and tointerlock therewith when the parts reach eX- tended position. l l

2. An extension leveling rod comprising a lower section, an upper section, means for slidably holding said sections in assembled relation so that theV upper section may be moved to eXtreme outwardly extended position, and co-operating means comprising a pin `carried by one of said sections, and a spring latch member carried by said holding means adapted to snap over said pin and to interlock therewith when the parts reach extended position for locking said sections in such extended position, said means being automatically operable in response tothesliding movement oir' said sections, the one relatively to the other,

3. An extension leveling red comprising a lower section andan upper section slidable relative thereto, means carried by said lower section for slidably securing the sections, said means having a leaf spring projecting laterallytherefrom in the path of movement of the upper secticn, said leali1 springhaving an opening therein and a stud projecting from the lower end of said upper section and adapted to snap into the opening of the leaf spring.

4. An extension leveling rod comprising two relatively slidable sections, one of said sections carrying a sleeve slidable to receive the other section, said lsleeve having an adjusting screw carried thereby with the inner sleeve and carrying a projecting stud on oneY of its lower faces, an adjusting screw' car ried by said sleeve with the inner end adjacent said upper section, a leaf spring having a slightly bowed portion positioned between said adjusting screw and said upper section, said leafv spring having a lateral extension overlying the upper edge of the sleeveand an intermediate shoulder underlying the lower edge of the sleeve, said leaf spring having a lower extension provided with an aperture adapted resiliently to receive the projection on the lower'end of the upper section.

' 6.7An extension leveling rod comprising two sections relatively'slidablc, a sleeve on one of said' sections, a clamp carried by said sleeve and adapted to adjust-ably lock the other sec-'tion rmly in extended position, a leaf spring having integral portions adapted to grip said sleeve whereby said leaf spring is held in position the clamp,said

v leaf s ring having an anertured extension. tu 23 i "ici and projection on the other section adapted to snap into the aperture of said extension.

7. An extension leveling rod comprising two sections, fone ot said sections carrying a clamp including a clamping screw and aleaf spring ladapted to be pressed against the other section by means ot' said clamping screw, said leaf spring having a portion forming one member of an automatic interlock, and means cooperative with said member for positively locking the two sections in extreme extended position.V Y

8. An extension levelingl rod comprising a lower section, an Lipper section, a leaf spring on one of said sections having a bowed portion, the upper end ot which is provided with a lateral bent lip, the lower partof the bowed portion being formed to provide a shoulder for gripping said section, the other end of the leat spring being formed with an outwardly bent portion and provided with an aperture adjacent said outwardly bent portion, and meanscn the other of said sections for interlocking with said apertured spring section.

9. An extension leveling rod lower section, an upper section slidable with respect-to said lower section, and a locking comprising a device inclu'dingi'a bowed leaf spring section carried by one Vof said slidablesections, means forclampingly engaging said bowed section, a second spring section, and means carried by one of said sections for intersection, a second recessed spring section, and

a projection carried by one of said leveling rod sections for interlocking with said re j cessed spring section to maintain said leveling rod sections in extended position.

ll. An extension leveling rod comprising a lower section, an upper section, clamping means carried by thelower section, a spring rsection Vinterposed between said clamping means and said upper section, a. second locking spring section extending adjacent said upper section, and means on said upper section icoriiiterlocking withsaid second spring section to maintain said leveling rod sections in predetermined extended position.

l2. An extension leveling rod comprisin0r '5' 1 n l o a lower section, an upper Asection slidable with respect to said lower section, rodguiding means carried by one of said-sections and extending around the other section so as to maintain said sections in proper slidable relation, aclamping means carried by said rod guiding means, a spring carried by said guiding means and extending along one of said rod sections,'and means carried by said rod section for lockingly engaging said spring when said rod sections occupy a predetermined extended position.

13. An extension Aleveling rod comprising a lower section, an upper sectionslidable with respect 'to said lower section, rod guiding means carried by one vot said sections and extending around the other section so as to maintain said sections in proper slidable relation, a clamping means carried by said rod guiding means, a spring interposed ber tween the clamping means and the rod section within the guiding means, a second springsection engaging said guiding means atV one extremity and adaptedV to vengage the rod sectionwithin said guiding means at its other extremity, and means carried by said rod section for lockingly engaging said second spring section to maintain said rod sections in a predetermined extended position.

14C. An extension Yleveling rod comprising two relatively slidable' sections,y one of said sections carrying a sleeve slidable to receive the other section, said sleeve having an vadjusting screwl carried thereby with the inner end of the adjustingvscrew arranged sub- 'lio stantially to press against the section Within the sleeve, a leaf spring section mounted in said sleeve and adapted to be engaged by the v inner end of said screw, a second spring sec- 

